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Most Comfortable Camping Mattress/Pad?
March 2012My husband and I have only been camping once with the kids, last summer. They loved it, and can't wait to go again soon. We liked it, as well, until it was time for bed. We tossed and turned all night on a Coleman air mattress, and I think I maybe got 2 hours of sleep, at the most.
I'd like to ask veteran campers what sort of mattress or pad they use to get a good night's sleep. I am thinking that an air mattress is not the right choice for us... it was uncomfortable and when one of us shifted, the whole thing would move. Also, it ended up leaking a lot of air throughout the night - by the time morning hit, it was probably 1/2 deflated.
Anyway, any recommendations would be great. We do need something that is 'queen' size (or 2 smaller mattresses/pads that can be attached/combined), as we have a large 2 person sleeping bag. We're willing to pay more for something that is really comfortable, and size/weight is not an issue, as we're strictly car campers.
An acquaintance once mentioned that they used a folding futon foam bed, and that it worked wonderfully. Has anyone ever used something like this? Again, all suggestions and recs are welcome! Thanks so much. Monica
LL Bean's 'camp futon' is a self-inflating mattress that is cushy but not bouncy like a regular air mattress. REI also makes a similar one; pay attention though, there are many varieties and you want the biggest and fattest one, not the backpacking version! As I've aged I've added a 'memory foam' topper from Costco to add another couple inches of softness; I'm a side sleeper so I do tend to hit bottom with my shoulder on the self-inflating pad without the topper. We've camped for many weeks at a time with this arrangement and I sleep well. Well-rested camper
When my brother was in boy scouts 20 years ago he had a foam pad that he would put under his sleeping bag. It was just a piece of foam about 2.5 feet wide, 6 feet long, and maybe 2 inches thick. I loved borrowing it for sleepovers so I would be more comfortable sleeping on the floor. My parents bought it at the local craft store (Jo Ann Fabric sends 40% off coupons if you are on their mailing list). Recently I custom ordered a piece of foam the same size as my son's crib mattress from Foam Factory online. Since it is the same size as his crib mattress, his crib sheets fit on it and it makes a great travel bed since it rolls up fairly small. You may find two smaller pieces (half the width of a queen) will be more useful than one queen sized piece. toddler mom
I'm not much of a camper, and tend to have trouble sleeping in beds that aren't my own. Therefore, I was especially pleased with the REI mattress I borrowed. Don't recall exact model, but it was their own name deluxe one. Slept great! Ellen
A foam mattress is probably what you need. (That's what you'd find in an RV, and some sofabed/futons.) But you'll need to strike the right balance between thickness and portability. (You don't need to be able to fit it on a backpack, but you do need to be able to fit it into your car, and haul it in and out of a tent, so it has to fold or roll up.) If you are slender people, even a foam 'mattress topper' (Target, JC Penney) or Thermarest type pad (a combo of foam and air -- though I've seen those only in small, single-person sizes) might be sufficient; if you are heavier or just want to go cushier, go to a foam store and look at the tri-fold mattress/couch things. They're normally marketed as play/nap/guest beds for children, but can be found in larger and thicker sizes too. Most foam stores do custom work, so you can choose the quality and firmness you want.
The alternative is a much better quality inflatable, like an Aerobed. My mom has one of those extra-height models that she uses as a guest bed in her home, and it's really quite comfy, very different from a typical Coleman camping air mattress! However, it does still have the issue of one person's movements affecting the other occupant of the bed. Holly
Eddie Bauer makes an WONDERFUL pad that has memory foam in the cushion and a flannel cover. Cushy and cozy. It's definitely pricey for a camping pad--but now I look forward to camping no matter how hard or cold the ground! And IMHO this is way better than a bouncy air mattress. Kelley
I am an experienced camper with a double sleeping bag and a back pain sufferer so I have tried them all. Good news is you are on the right track. I sleep on an air mattress every night but the key is to only fill it about 1/2 full so it molds to your body. For camping you probably need two single (twin size) mattresses next to each other as just a large one and you'll roll to the center most likely and be miserable. One key is the mattress must be at least 9' thick. I just bought one at Target made by Coleman for around $32. Coleman makes good stuff and it shouldn't leak. Aqua Seal (REI or Steele's Dive Shop) repairs leaks easy. Aerobed is a lousy company, over-priced, with poor customer service so avoid them. Eddie Bauer and Serta are good. You could also try a 3''-4'' memory foam topper on the air mattress you have but that is big and bulky. I would try two twin size from Target and set the air soft to your preference. I think yours had too much air and was too firm and too soft by morning. Trail mats aren't a good idea. Sound Sleeper
Where to get a used camping tent
May 2004We need a big tent, one that you can stand up in, say 8x10 or so, and we'd rather buy a good used one than a cheap new one. Any suggestions where we might find one??? Thanks!! Wanna go camping
Try the Wilderness Exchange on San Pablo. kl
Want to buy mine? It's about 10x10 and you can definitely stand up in it. We're downsizing. Contact me if you're interested. (As for other places, I've looked in Craig's List and found expensive, fancy tents. I'm getting our next one at Costco.) Jennie
In Berkeley, try Wilderness Exchange on San Pablo across from REI, also the Army Navy Surplus store, further south on San Pablo on the same side as REI, carries a variey of used camping gear, not just used military gear. Kristen
Definitely check out the Wilderness Exchange (on San Pablo near University) -- they've got all sorts of used (and new) camping/sports gear. the people there are very knowledgeable and friendly and I've always gotten great deals there. shedragon
If you want to be able t camp year-round, you will definitely need a three season tent that can deal with rain.
We have an REI Kingdom 6 that we love (but we only have one teenager). It also comes in an 8 person version. We are very happy with the tent. Rain is not a problem. There is plenty of space and it is high enough that we (average-sized adults) can stand upright. And it is much more durable than the cheap Coleman tents.
We got this one last season to start camping with our baby who was 8-11 months old during last summer's season: https://www.thenorthface.com/shop/wawona-6p-nf0a52ce Overall we love it because you can stand up in it and there was plenty of room for us to set up a full pack and play for the baby, and you can stand up in the tent which is nice, and the vestibule is huge. It was a little confusing to set up the first time, but then pretty easy. The one complaint we read about in reviews and would agree with is that the stuff sack is a little annoying/akwward to pack up. We also invested in a 20 degree down sleeping bag for the little guy (https://www.rei.com/product/164474/morrison-outdoors-little-mo-20-down-…), which kept him warm most of the time except on a colder night in the fall that he joined my sleeping bag partway through the night. l also got a wool mattress for the pack and play to keep him warmer. Also nice to have a portable white noise machine, some sort of little chair for eating. Have so much fun!
Our family of 3 likes the North Face Wawona tent. Also a huge fan of Yeti coolers (pricey, but worth it). Have fun!
It really depends on whether you're car camping or backpacking. There is a fantastic facebook group called "backpacking with babies and kids" that I'd suggest joining and has all the answers you might need for gears and destination tips. I learned a lot just by scrolling through the posts.
I recommend speaking with the folks at REI and Sports Basement, and renting tents at first, to get a better idea of what you need before you buy.
Are you envisioning car camping in the sense that you'll drive somewhere and set up a tent near the car? With a four year old and a 10 month old there are a couple ways to do it depending on how well your 10month old sleeps. I'd recommend a 6 person tent over a 4 person as it will give you more room for all your stuff. That way you won't be on top of each other as you're trying to move around. I'm a big fan of the REI tents if you want something nice. If you want something cheap Coleman makes tents for a fraction of the price. The quality of the materials is a few tiers below what REI offers and the Coleman tents will be heavier. Some REI's offer tent rentals so it could be a good opportunity to test some stuff out before you buy it.
Hi there,
I would recommend North Face Wawona 6p. I know it is for 6 persons, but it works great for my wife and kids. We have plenty of room and like the layout.
Hope this helps!
When our kids were those ages, and even now in a pinch, we can all fit into a 4 person tent like the REI half dome. Bigger tents are harder to warm up with body heat, fail in high winds, and are heavy to carry if you decide to start backpacking later on. When your kids get bigger, you can bring along a separate 2 person tent or some hammocks in good weather. If anyone in the family has back issues, or wants a mini bounce house, then you'd want a taller tent. I think that 3 season tents can be used in the winter in a pinch if snow load isn't a concern. You would layer two sleeping pads and buy/rent warmer sleeping bags. For car camping it might be nice to bring inexpensive (read: heavier) sleeping bags that can be opened up and shared. Little kids sleep better with parental swaddling. We made it through many campouts without crying in the middle of the night from the littles much to other people's amazement. REI now offers used gear so every last little decision is less critical from a wallet standpoint! We've had other tents, e.g. Eureka which were fine but maybe heavier. The easiest way to ruin a good tent is to not wait for the winds to die down (there are online charts time of day forecasts) and to not completely dry out a tent at home after the camping trip (read: mold/mildew issues). Other failure modes are usually also unforced user errors like directing/collecting water under the tent during rainfall, not staking the tent under sketchy conditions, pitching a tent on sloped surfaces.... :D
The best tent really depends on your style of camping. Do you anticipate doing any backpacking, or are you strictly car campers? Will you be camping in the winter? If so, rain and snow will be issues, so you will need something pretty waterproof. Also, what's your budget? The price range is pretty astounding, from under $100 to $450 and up. Finally, some tents are much easier to put up than others. I have often camped with just the kids, so need something that is fast and easy to pitch.
I can personally recommend the Coleman Sundome. We have one that has lasted for 18 years, and is just now wearing out. I've been researching tents, and have concluded that I will buy another one. It sells for under $100, so it's a great bang for the buck. It's also roomy, easy to put up, and lasted very well. It's definitely not glamorous, the people with fancy $450 tents probably sniff at me, but who cares? It's a great, practical, affordable product that has given us lots of fun in the outdoors.
OP here, we plan on car camping for now thank you so much for the suggestions, this is super helpful.